FAME Assistance Corporation’s ‘Let’s Move California!’ Initiative for a Day of Family Activities and Education to Solve Childhood Obesity

LOS ANGELES, CA – Let’s Move California!: Fitness Feria is a free community event filled with physical activities and fun designed to engage children and educate parents about nutrition, exercise, health and resources for a healthier lifestyle. Let’s Move California!: Fitness Feria will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Robert F. Kennedy Schools located at 701 South Catalina Street, in Los Angeles.Anticipating 7,500 guests,the event will feature English, Spanish and Korean speaking instructors for 40+ hands on sports activities, health screening areas, cooking demonstrations, tastings, nutritional education, and exciting raffle prizes, which will include Wolfgang Puck’s line of kitchen appliances.

FAME Assistance Corporation (FAC), Let’s Move California!’s lead organization, in partnership with Advancing America Foundation (AAF), are coordinating the Let’s Move California!: Fitness Feria event, an extension of Let’s Move California and a supportive arm of First Lady Michelle Obama’s national Let’s Move! Campaign, an initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.

"First Lady Michelle Obama started Let’s Move! to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Local, community leadership is key in creating real solutions because there’s no one size fits all answer to this complex issue. Let’s Move California! is a great example of what can happen when moms and dads, community and faith leaders, mayors, teachers, and more come together to ensure a healthier future for our kids. Everyone has a role to play in addressing this issue, and I am thrilled to see this community rising to the challenge." - Sam Kass, Senior Policy Advisor on Healthy Food Initiatives and White House Assistant Chef.

“Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the last three decades. Funding cuts throughout California have impacted schools and communities, decreasing access to sports participation by youth. Lower income, African American and Hispanic families are particularly struggling with this obesity epidemic. Let’s Move California! is a critical step FAME Assistance Corporation is taking to reach out to our community to educate families on ways they can improve their and their children’s health for the long haul and we are grateful to have the White House’s support in our initiative,” states Denise Hunter, FAC President and COO.

The event will feature numerous celebrities including, Sam Kass, the White House Senior Policy Advisor to Healthy Food Initiative, chefs Ingrid Hoffmann and Cathlyn Choi, and special guest chef/restaurateur, Wolfgang Puck. Children will participate in physical activities including baseball, soccer, dance, gymnastics, cheer, volleyball, wrestling, rugby, track and field, among others. Kids will engage in various drills led by LA Sparks, LA Galaxy, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and CrossFit. Complementary sporting balls will be given away. Additionally, the Army will be on site promoting the importance of fitness because with childhood and adult obesity rates increasing, this alarming trend may impact military recruitment. Also, the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and State Legislature will be issuing proclamations declaring June 16th Let’s Move California! Day.

“Almost 18 percent of Hispanic children are obese, with a higher prevalence of obesity in low income communities,” said Sylvia Acevedo, President of Advancing America Foundation. “Children with obesity problems are more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. We want Fitness Feria to introduce a wide range of fitness and sports activities that will motivate and inspire children to join sports teams or fitness groups to live a more healthy and active lifestyle while at the same time empowering parents and caregivers with resources in the community.”

California Attorney General Kamala Harris comments, "Let's Move California! is a much needed initiative addressing our state's issue of childhood obesity. FAME Assistance Corporation has taken an important step in leading this movement to educate children and parents on how they can change their lives for better health through proper nutrition, exercise, health screenings and access to resources. I fully support the Let's Move California! cause."

On Friday, June 15th, Let’s Move California! kicks of the campaign with an educational summit bringing together elected officials, educators, non-profit, policy advocates and community leaders to discuss ways to readily implement programs to help educate and facilitate a more physically active lifestyle and healthier diet.